Anaerobic biodegradation of PAHs in mangrove sediment with amendment of NaHCO3

Mangrove sediment is unique in chemical and biological properties. Many of them suffer polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) contamination. However, the study on PAH biological remediation for mangrove sediment is deficient. Enriched PAH-degrading microbial consortium and electron acceptor amendment are considered as two effective measures. Compared to other electron acceptors, the study on CO2, which is used by methanogens, is still seldom. This study investigated the effect of Na HCO3 amendment on the anaerobic biodegradation of four mixed PAHs, namely fluorene(Fl), phenanthrene(Phe),fluoranthene(Flua) and pyrene(Pyr), with or without enriched PAH-degrading microbial consortium in mangrove sediment slurry. The trends of various parameters, including PAH concentrations, microbial population size, electron-transport system activities, electron acceptor and anaerobic gas production were monitored. The results revealed that the inoculation of enriched PAH-degrading consortium had a significant effect with half lives shortened by 7–13 days for 3-ring PAHs and 11–24 days for 4-ring PAHs. While Na HCO3 amendment did not have a significant effect on the biodegradation of PAHs and other parameters, except that CO2 gas in the headspace of experimental flasks was increased.One of the possible reasons is that mangrove sediment contains high concentrations of other electron acceptors which are easier to be utilized by anaerobic bacteria, the other one is that the anaerobes in mangrove sediment can produce enough CO2 gas even without adding Na HCO3.     

Synthetic TiO2 nanoparticle emission from exterior facades into the aquatic environment

We present direct evidence of the release of synthetic nanoparticles from urban applications into the aquatic environment. We investigated TiO₂ particles as these particles are used in large quantities in exterior paints as whitening pigments and are to some extent also present in the nano-size range.TiO₂ particles were traced from exterior facade paints to the discharge into surface waters. We used a centrifugation based sample preparation which recovers TiO₂ particles between roughly 20 and 300 nm. Analytical electron microscopy revealed that TiO₂ particles are detached from new and aged facade paints by natural weather conditions and are then transported by facade runoff and are discharged into natural, receiving waters. Microscopic investigations are confirmed by bulk chemical analysis. By combining results from microscopic investigations with bulk chemical analysis we calculated the number densities of synthetic TiO₂ particles in the runoff.     

Reduction of sampling and analytical errors for electron microscopic analysis of atmospheric aerosols

Electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EM/EDS) can be used to determine the elemental composition of individual particles. However, the accuracy with which atmospheric particle compositions can be quantitatively determined is not well understood. In this work we explore sources of sampling and analytical bias and methods of reducing bias. Sulfuric acid [H₂SO₄] and ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] particles were collected on beryllium, silicon, and carbon substrates with similar deposition densities. While [(NH₄)₂SO₄] particles were observed on all substrates, [H₂SO₄] and ammonia-treated [H₂SO₄] particles could not be found on beryllium substrates. Interactions between the substrate and sulfuric acid particles are implicated. When measured with EM/EDS, [H₂SO₄] particles exposed to ammonia overnight were found having lower beam damage rates (0.000 ± 0.002 fraction s⁻¹) than those without any treatment (0.023 ± 0.006 fraction s⁻¹) For laboratory-generated [C₁₀H₆(SO₃Na)₂] particles, the composition determined using the experimental k-factors evaluated from independent particle standards of similar composition and size shows an error less than 20% for all constituents, while greater than 78% errors were found when k-factors were calculated from the theory. This study suggests (1) that sulfate beam damage can be reduced by exposure of atmospheric particle samples to ammonia before analysis, (2) that beryllium is not a suitable substrate for atmospheric particle analysis, and (3) calibration (k-factor determination) using particle standards of similar size and composition to particles present in the atmosphere shows promise as a way of improving the accuracy of quantitative EM analysis.     

氧化石墨烯改性PVDF/PET复合膜的制备及其抗污染性能

采用PET编织管作为复合膜的结构层,将PVP和氧化石墨烯(GO)分别作为制孔剂和改性剂与PVDF基材混合,通过涂覆-浸没凝胶相转化法制备得到具有亲水性的高强度PVDF/PET编织管复合膜。观察复合膜的断面结构和表面形貌,测定其纯水通量、表面基团以及接触角等性能参数,并将不同浓度GO改性复合膜应用于序批式膜生物反应器(SMBR)中。利用原子力显微镜(AFM)及自制的污染物胶体探针测定了溶解性微生物产物(SMP)与膜面之间的微观作用力,考察改性复合膜的抗污染特性。在40 d的反应器运行实验中,GO改性复合膜的清洗周期较改性前延长了20%～40%,该结果说明改性复合膜能够有效抑制膜面对污染物的吸附,且GO质量分数为0.5%时清洗周期最长。AFM测试结果显示,复合膜中GO质量分数为0.5%时,SMP与膜面之间的黏附力最小,抗污染能力最强。     

A multi-integrated approach on toxicity effects of engineered TiO2 nanoparticles

The new properties of engineered nanoparticles drive the need for new knowledge on the safety, fate, behavior and biologic effects of these particles on organisms and ecosystems. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been used extensively for a wide range of applications, e.g, self-cleaning surface coatings, solar cells, water treatment agents, topical sunscreens. Within this scenario increased environmental exposure can be expected but data on the ecotoxicological evaluation of nanoparticles are still scarce. The main purpose of this work was the evaluation of effects of TiO₂ nanoparticles in several organisms, covering different trophic levels, using a battery of aquatic assays. Using fish as a vertebrate model organism tissue histological and ultrastructural observations and the stress enzyme activity were also studied. TiO₂ nanoparticles (Aeroxide® P25), two phase composition of anatase (65%) and rutile (35%) with an average particle size value of 27.6±11 nm were used. Results on the EC₅₀ for the tested aquatic organisms showed toxicity for the bacteria, the algae and the crustacean, being the algae the most sensitive tested organism. The aquatic plant Lemna minor showed no effect on growth. The fish Carassius auratus showed no effect on a 21 day survival test, though at a biochemical level the cytosolic Glutathione-S-Transferase total activity, in intestines, showed a general significant decrease (p<0.05) after 14 days of exposure for all tested concentrations. The presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles aggregates were observed in the intestine lumen but their internalization by intestine cells could not be confirmed.     

海洋硅藻细胞表面物理化学特性对镉累积的影响

硅藻是海洋生态系统中主要的初级生产者,在全球碳循环中扮演重要角色。硅藻在镉(Cd)的生物地球化学循环中同样发挥了关键的作用。营养盐、盐度、pH、光照、温度等因子可改变Cd在硅藻中的累积,但其关键过程尚未清楚。借助多功能原子力显微镜(AFM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、非损伤微测(NMT)等先进表征手段,可定量研究硅藻细胞的表面物理化学特性。本综述讨论环境因子对细胞表面粗糙度的影响,探索粗糙度-表面功能基团-电势之间的联系,从微观层次揭示硅藻细胞与Cd之间的相互作用,诠释硅藻吸附金属Cd的过程。     

Fetal skin biopsy in prenatal diagnosis of some genodermatoses

Various methods of obtaining fetal skin for prenatal diagnosis of certain autosomal-recessive congenital genodermatoses have been assessed. An attempt was made to obtain fetal skin by fetoscopy in 15 patients prior to pregnancy termination for a variety of medical reasons at 18–26 weeks. Specimens were obtained only in five cases (8 successful attempts out of 48). In twelve cases, of which five had a history of a child with junctional (Herlitz type) or dystrophic (Hallopeau-Siemens type) epidermolysis bullosa or non-bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma at 16–25 weeks of pregnancy, fetal skin was obtained without fetoscopy under direct ultrasonic control. Specimens were obtained in all cases (33 successful attempts out of 39). In three cases, fetal pathology was diagnosed by the method of semi-thin and ultra-thin skin sections, and the respective pregnancies were terminated.     

Immunocytochemical localization of peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes in human fetal liver

In the majority of congenital peroxisomal disorders, β-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids is deficient. We have investigated the appearance and localization of the three peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes in normal fetal liver (fertilization age between 5 and 18 weeks) with protein A- gold immunocytochemistry and silver enhancement for light microscopic visualization. With specificity-tested polyclonal antibodies, acyl-CoA-oxidase, bifunctiooal enzyme, and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase were localized in the peroxisomes of the parenchymal cells, which appear as brown or black granules. In the youngest specimen, no immunopositive reaction was obtained. A weak reaction with anti-thiolase was obtained at the age of 6–7 weeks. At a fertilization age of 8 weeks, peroxisomes could be distinctly visualized after immunostaining for all three enzymes. From a staining series with anti-thiolase on simultaneously treated slides, it appears that the amount of antigen per peroxisome and the organelle size increase between the seventh and eighteenth weeks. These data should enable a more specific diagnosis in fetal liver biopsies from pregnancies at risk and after termination of pregnancy.     

Adsorption characterizations of fulvic acid fractions onto kaolinite

Fulvic acids extracted from a typical rice-production region near Taihu Lake of China were fractionated into three fractions including F4. 8, F7. 0 and F11. 0(eluted by pH4. 8 buffer, pH 7. 0bufferandpH 11. 0buffer, respectively). Sorption of fulvic acid(FA)fractions onto kaolinite was studied by batch adsorption experiments, and characterizations of kaolinite before and after adsorption were investigated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Adsorption isotherms of kaolinite for three FA fractions fit well with the Langmuir adsorption model. The adsorption density of the three fractions was positively correlated with the ratio of the amount of the alkyl carbon to that of carboxyl and carbonyl carbon in FA fractions and followed an order of F11. 0>F7. 0>F4.8.Hydrophobic interaction Was one of the control mechanisms for the sorption of FA fraction onto kaolinite. SEM images confirmed that compared to blank kaolinite samples, kaolinite samples coated by a FA fraction displayed an opener and more dispersed conformation resulting from the disruption of the floe structure in complex. Dispersion of kaolinite after adsorption was due to the repulsion between negatively charged FA. coated particles, which is closely related to the amount of FA fractions absorbed on kaolinite.     

Cysteine-enhanced reductive degradation of nitrobenzene using nano-sized zero-valent iron by accelerated electron transfer

As an aliphatic amino acid, cysteine (CYS) is diffuse in the living cells of plants and animals. However, little is known of its role in the reactivity of nano-sized zero-valent iron (NZVI) in the degradation of pollutants. This study shows that the introduction of CYS to the NZVI system can help improve the efficiency of reduction, with 30% more efficient degradation and a reaction rate constant nine times higher when nitrobenzene (NB) is used as probe compound. The rates of degradation of NB were positively correlated with the range of concentrations of CYS from 0 to 10 mmol/L. The introduction of CYS increased the maximum concentration of Fe(III) by 12 times and that of Fe(II) by four times in this system. A comparison of systems featuring only CYS or Fe(II) showed that the direct reduction of NB was not the main factor influencing its CYS-stimulated removal. The reduction in the concentration of CYS was accompanied by the generation of cystine (CY, the oxidized form of cysteine), and both eventually became stable. The introduction of CY also enhanced NB degradation due to NZVI, accompanied by the regeneration of CYS. This supports the claim that CYS can accelerate electron transfer from NZVI to NB, thus enhancing the efficiency of degradation of NB.